New York Fashion Week: Day Five

By Sarah Karmali

VICTORIA BECKHAM will ensure that the fashion pack is up and about early this Sunday morning, to view the latest line from her eponymous brand. If previous seasons are anything to go by, husband David Beckham will undoubtedly be in attendance - presumably with at least one of the Beckham children in tow. (If Romeo didn't have school the next day, our money would have been on him.)

New York Fashion Week: Day Three

By Ella Alexander

THE first of the New York heavyweights will take to the catwalks today, namely Jason Wu. Having been given Michelle Obama's endorsement once again at Barack Obama's second presidential inauguration last month, the US-based designer is officially one of the city's most exciting and influential fashion names. Known for his ladylike wearable dresses in colourful hues, Wu's latest collection will be one that press and buyers will pore over with equal admiration.

New York Fashion Week: Day Four

By Ella Alexander

WINTER Storm Nemo may have prevented many from arriving to New York Fashion Week on time, but the shows must go on and today's schedule makes those arduous transatlantic flights worthwhile.

This morning begins with Lacoste, followed by Prabal Gurung - one of the city's foremost rising stars. The Nepalese designer kicked off NYFW on Wednesday evening with a carnival-themed party to celebrate his new collection for US high street store Target, building more suspense for his autumn/winter 2013-14 show. With his designs now worn by the Duchess of Cambridge, Sarah Jessica Parker and Jennifer Lawrence, Gurung's name is one that is increasingly becoming a mainstay in US fashion circles.

New York Fashion Week: Day One

By Ella Alexander

SHOW SEASON kicks-off today with the first of the New York Fashion Week shows. Paving the way is Organic, Veronica Beard and Rachel Comey, followed by Richard Chai, Creatures of the Wind, Duckie Brown and Band Of Outsiders tomorrow. The Big Apple traditionally always offers one the lengthiest line-ups, this season spanning an impressive nine days.

Marchesa To Launch New Contemporary Line/ Marchesa - Spring/Summer 2013

By Sarah Karmali

MARCHESA is launching a secondary, more-affordable line. The contemporary collection will feature the brand's signature mainline aesthetic, but at lower price points.

Marchesa, helmed by designers Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig, is renowned for its ethereal and romantic red carpet creations, and has a strong celebrity fan base - with everyone from Diane Kruger to Rihanna and Kristen Stewart having worn their designs. The pair also has a successful Marchesa Bridal line - with Blake Lively famously getting married in one of their bespoke creations last year - as well as a formal wear diffusion range, Notte by Marchesa. The new venture will see them branching out into the daywear and accessories markets for the first time.

"We have always had a vision for Marchesa to be a lifestyle brand," Chapman told WWD. "We have been very specific for eveningwear so far. We always had this dream that Marchesa could transcend into all different areas of lifestyle."

Little more is known about the new line, which is slated to launch towards the end of this year. It's believed that the collection will feature Marchesa brand signatures such as heavy use of embroidery and print, with prices ranging between $150 and $750. The designers signed a licensing agreement with LF USA in order to launch the new label.

"It's going to be under the Marchesa umbrella, but with a slightly different feel," said Chapman. "We have been so specific for such a long time, and the idea to broaden out to a different consumer, and to our same consumer as well. We haven't really looked at that market yet. My dream is to give Marchesa many facets, and that's just one of them."

Marchesa - Spring/Summer 2013 

New York Fashion Week: Day Two

By Sarah Karmali

WHILE yesterday saw the official start of New York Fashion Week - not to mention the entire month of international shows - today sees the schedule get into full swing. Starting the day off is BCBG Max Azria, a collection that, for many, marks the first full-scale on-schedule show of the season, and one which always attracts our first sighting of front row personalities. Expect a series of striking, contemporary dresses and a captivated audience of Manhattan-ites starting their shopping lists.

By Malene Birger Celebrates 10th Anniversary

By Sarah Karmali

 

BY MALENE BIRGER is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a commemorative capsule collection, available to buy online at my-wardrobe.com. Since the online retailer's launch in 2006, the label has consistently been one of its top selling brands. The results of Danish designer Malene Birger, the brand has a focus on workmanship and attention to detail - and was originally inspired by her mother and grandmother's classic and time-tested wardrobes. The Celebration Collection incorporates a selection of the brand's signature styles from the past decade - a mixture of wearable contemporary daywear and elegant evening options - in a colour palette of neutrals and monochrome mixed with pops of bright fuchsia, tangerine and lemon yellow. Key pieces include classic shift dresses, ladylike pencil skirts in lace and leather, pretty silk tunic tops and flowing chiffon gowns. The anniversary collection also features accessories - an array of oversized clutches, chain-strap shoulder bags and statement necklaces. "Malene Birger has become an icon in terms of Danish fashion design and her brand By Malene Birger is synonymous with feminine, timeless classics," said Carmen Borgonovo, fashion director at my-wardrobe.com. "Every piece has something special about it, but a wearabilty that transcends across the seasons. We are delighted to celebrate 10 years of such an iconic My-Wardrobe brand, which has continued to be a best-selling collection since My-Wardrobe launched in April 2006." By Malene Birger is marking the milestone by holding a grand catwalk show to showcase the collection, followed by a birthday party, in Copenhagen on Thursday. The By Malene Birger Celebration Collection is available to buy now on my-wardrobe.com and in By Malene Birger boutiques. 

from www.vogue.co.uk

This Week In Pictures - 04/02/2013

By Sarah Karmali And Ella Alexander

THE 2013 Super Bowl took place over the weekend, and while millions tuned in to watch the sporting action (between the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers), it was Beyoncé Knowles' half-time spectacular that really stole the show. The event saw her reunite on-stage with her Destiny's Child band mates, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, for renditions of some of their most famous material - complete with matching black leather outfits, naturally.

The American national anthem was performed during the event by Alicia Keys, while Jennifer Hudson also made an appearance, fronting a choir of children from Sandy Hook elementary school - the scene of the tragic shooting that left 26 people dead in December last year.

While Beyoncé's mind-blowing performance has dominated our thoughts for the majority of the week, there have been a few other pictorial news moments to have hit fashion headlines. Miranda Kerr upheld her position as one of the world's most beautiful women as she hit the catwalk for Australian department store David Jones; preparation for the upcoming BAFTAs got underway; and the 2013 Oscars nominees gathered for a memorable photograph in Los Angeles.

Victoria Beckham shares a picture of her New York studio where she's currently getting ready for her autumn/winter 2013-14 show this weekend.

Editor's Letter: March Vogue

By Alexandra Shulman -

British Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman introduces the February 2013 issue:

       The March issue of Vogue is 
one of the most relevant of the year. Although the September issue has attained a higher level of fame (in great part due to the terrific documentary about American Vogue), the March issue is the spring equivalent and it's always an important one for those of 
us who work on it.

Sandra Choi To Helm Jimmy Choo - short news

By Ella Alexander

SANDRA CHOI has been named the sole creative director of Jimmy Choo, after the exit of Simon Holloway - who has left to pursue other interests. The pair served as co-creative directors since November 2011. Choi's appointment means that she is now responsible for the design of each of the label's product categories - spanning shows, handbags, accessories, fragrances and eyewear - as well as brand identity. The designer is the niece of Jimmy Choo, who first founded his eponymous line in 1996.